Here's Stan Fischler's thoughts on the Rangers 3-2 loss to the Sharks.
In the every-running vote for the "Rangers Worst Game Of The Season," we have a new leader; a real doozy, I might add.
How about losing to the worst team in the league, the San Jose Sharks, 3-2 in overtime?
No, it's worse. What's "worst" is how about blowing a third period two-goal lead?
It all was there to the delight of home fans last night at SAP Center. That's SAP, as in saps, which is what the non-toothless Sharks made the Rangers look like in this California paradise.
But let's get to the good news first, the Blueshirts "Bakery Boys" -- Adam (Bring Me A Bagel, Please) Fox and Breadman (Today He'll Have A Kaiser Roll) Panarin. The BB's each got a goal, and either one should have been a winner.
Sorry, Pals, but Igor Shesterkin played like Iggie Shester-Lose. With a paltry 22 shots on goal, he managed to stop 19. The other guy, Mackenzie Blackwood, faced 31 drives and, as you all know, stopped 29. (See, no analytics needed.)
In case you haven't figured out what went wrong, I'll allow a couple of Rangers to take the witness stand.
"We played well for two periods," Fox explained, "but they wanted it more than us in the third, and that cost us."
Still, there was a little thing called overtime, and the winning goal by Tomas Hertl -- according to 18 Rangers -- should not have counted.
"There were two 'picks' on the play," insisted coach Peter Laviolette, "and they should have been called. Those calls have to be made."
For those citizens of Rangerville who enjoy worrying, it's worth noting that -- for reasons that The Maven can't figure -- captain Jacob Trouba is not at the very top of his game.
Maybe it'll improve Friday night at The Garden.
It will be so Rangers-like to lose to the worst team on the Left Coast and then come home and beat the Cup champions.
Guess what? The Maven predicts that it will happen!